Cold Friday and a winter storm update

Cold Friday and a winter storm update

ARCTIC DAY: A brutally chilled start gives way to a cold Friday. Today, we climb out of the single digits and top out near 20° with plenty of sun and light winds. Only a few clouds pass. Evening plans are chilly with temps in the teens! Tonight we bottom out near 8°.

WINTER STORM: Let’s discuss the set-up first. Cold air will be in place to our north, as moisture streams in over the region aloft. The atmosphere looks ripe for rain/snow/sleet mix to start off, but the amount of cold air in place though the depth of the atmosphere will steadily build into place toward Monday morning. So, what’s it mean for us? The trends are pointing toward a mainly snow event for us moving through the day Monday. We’re expecting a moderate to high impact event. Our forecast bust potential all lies within any warm air mixing in the middle levels. Otherwise, the forecast is looking likely for high accumulations of snow.

The only trick we’re concerned with in this forecast is a thin layer of warm air aloft melting snow to rain, which then will freeze before it hits the ground. This is called sleet and it can cut down on snow totals, BIG TIME. It’s often difficult to detect/forecast as well.

So Saturday, expect clouds to stream in and thicken as temps climb to the middle 30s. A few flakes may fly but we’re not expecting much. Then Sunday, we’re cloudy with highs nudging into the middle to upper 30s. The rain chance ramps up later in the day, with a rain to snow mix with sleet arrives overnight. By Monday morning, expect significant accumulating snow to begin and it exits late. Highs Monday are only in the middle 20s.

Bottom line: Expect a wintry mess on Monday. Mary Ellen will have the totals beginning tonight.

COLD RETURNS: Cold air settles right back in behind the front next week. Highs are only in the middle to upper20s for the week, with drier air and a break for mid week.

Have an awesome Friday and a wonderful weekend. Keep checking back for updates on the storm.

“Unexpected kindness is the most powerful, least costly, and most underrated agent of human change.” – Bob Kerrey